UC Davis faced a former Big Sky Conference quarterback last Saturday in a season-opening 53-28 loss at No. 24 Oregon as ex-Montana State star Dakota Prukop threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another.

The Aggies will face another former Big Sky quarterback Saturday when NAIA power Southern Oregon comes to Davis. Former Cal Poly quarterback Tanner Trosin, who starred at Folsom High School, will lead the Raiders.

But while Prukop moved up from the Big Sky, Trosin took a step down.

Trosin spent two years at Cal Poly – he was a redshirt freshman in 2013 – buried behind three other quarterbacks, including fellow Folsom standout Dano Graves, now the Mustangs’ starter.

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The first California prep to pass for more than 5,000 yards in a season, Trosin transferred to American River College in 2014 and led the Beavers to a 10-2 record and a state bowl semifinal.

In 2015, Trosin directed Southern Oregon to a return appearance in the NAIA championship game in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Raiders lost to Marian, Ind., which Southern Oregon beat for the title the previous season.

Trosin passed for 2,841 yards and 16 touchdowns and set school quarterback records with 866 rushing yards and 12 scores for the 11-3 Raiders last season. Last week, he threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for another, in Southern Oregon’s season-opening 45-40 loss to Eastern Oregon.

“Their quarterback is really, really scary,” said UCD coach Ron Gould. “The guy is a playmaker. He makes everyone around him better. He can get in and out of tight windows, and just when you think he is sacked, he is scrambling. They can run the option with him, and he has a nice touch on the ball.”

Their quarterback is really, really scary. The guy is a playmaker. He makes everyone around him better. He can get in and out of tight windows, and just when you think he is sacked, he is scrambling. They can run the option with him, and he has a nice touch on the ball.

UC Davis coach Ron Rould on Southern Oregon quarterback Tanner Trosin

Southern Oregon had a succession of losing seasons until Craig Howard took over in 2011. His previous claim to fame was being Tim Tebow’s high school coach in Florida. Since Howard arrived in Ashland, Ore., the Raiders have gone 45-18.

Howard has established a link with the Sacramento area, which has 19 former prep players on the Raiders’ roster.

“They have an explosive offense,” Gould said. “They are fast-paced, up-tempo, a lot like Oregon.”

Southern Oregon’s last visit to the area came in 2013, when the Raiders lost a thrilling 63-56 overtime game to Sacramento State.

Saturday’s game will feature UCD’s new game-day experience that will include a “Kickoff Street Party,” upgraded concession offerings and a policy that allows fans to bring food into Aggie Stadium. UCD also will allow fans to mingle with players on the field after the game, a former tradition that started at Toomey Field.

Hornets in Fresno – It’s pretty simple. Upset host Fresno State on Saturday night, and Sacramento State can put its disappointing 38-30 season-opening home loss to Division II Western Oregon behind it

But a beat-down by the Bulldogs could continue to erode the confidence of a Hornets team trying to overcome last season’s 2-9 record and first loss to a lower-division team since 2002.

The Bulldogs, coming off a 3-9 season, lost their season opener 43-10 at Nebraska. Fresno State trailed 14-10 at halftime before being outscored 29-0.

The Hornets will be led by quarterback Nate Ketteringham, who passed for 370 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to Western Oregon. Former Hornets basketball standout Cody Demps had five catches for 70 yards and a two-point conversion catch in his college football debut.

The Hornets’ offense ran 94 plays in the opener, fifth-most in Sac State history.

Fresno State is 26-1 against Football Championship Subdivision schools since 1982.

94 Plays run by Sacramento State last week, fifth-most in school history